Bitcoin evangelist John McAfee has joined a crowded field of US presidential candidates for the 2020 election. Unlike his rivals, McAfee has a bold, unexpected slogan: “Don’t vote McAfee.”

Like many bitcoin enthusiasts, McAfee is a libertarian who believes in small government, unfettered political freedom, and personal autonomy.

Government ‘Has Become Our Master’

On his website, the software pioneer declared that his top priority is to stir up a populist, anti-government movement. He has also stated that a major goal of his presidential campaign is to shine a spotlight on the beauty of decentralized cryptocurrencies.

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“My campaign platform contains one item: how do we free ourselves from a government that no longer serves us, but instead has become our master – controlling our every action, down to the detail of what we may or may not put into our bodies and minds,” McAfee wrote.

Our ‘Government Has Gone Insane’

McAfee also blasted the current dysfunctional, two-party political system in the United States, which he calls “extreme” and “insane.”

Our two-party system created a voting process which is an illusion, and a government that fluctuates between two extremes ― each extreme annulling any progress made by the opposition in the prior administration.

It is a government that has gone insane. While we carry the burden of this government, we are not free. Any attempt to address national problems, of any nature, is doomed to failure.

Until we free ourselves, we are powerless to create any real change. And since our insane government keeps massive secrets from us and is masterful at disinformation, there is not a single National issue that we know the true state of. How then can we address it? You cannot fix what you cannot see.

McAfee’s Rival Is Ex-Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz

McAfee’s scathing criticism of the current inept system of government echoed the sentiments of former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who’s also running for president in 2020.

As CCN reported, the bitcoin-bashing Schultz plans to run as a “centrist independent” because he’s disgusted with the bureaucratic two-party system.

“Both parties are consistently not doing what’s necessary on behalf of the American people,” Schultz said. “[Politicians] are engaged, every single day, in revenge politics.”

McAfee underscored that his main goal is to urge people to rise up and free themselves from the oppressive yoke of government control. And only then can we start focusing on finding a solution to other problems.

“We must first be free,” he asserted. “Freedom for The People is my only goal.”

Running For President While Running From IRS

Speaking of freedom, McAfee is currently on the run from the law for alleged tax evasion. Last week, McAfee claimed on Twitter that he and his wife were indicted for not paying their US federal income taxes.

The alleged indictment came just two weeks after McAfee confessed in a bombshell tweetstorm that he had not filed an income tax return for eight years.

The bitcoin enthusiast then laid down the gauntlet to the IRS by defiantly challenging the agency to pursue him. “Here I am,” he goaded.

John McAfee is a cybersecurity pioneer who created the McAfee anti-virus software program. At the peak of his wealth, McAfee’s net worth topped $100 million. After the 2008 US financial crisis, McAfee says he lost most of his fortune.

We declared our independence from Britain and fought a bloody war to escape burdensome taxes, yet here we are, less than 250 years later, being burdened by income taxes that are more crushing than anythung rhe British dreamed of. Free yourselves people!https://t.co/mYy6z06tHc

About The Author

Samantha Chang is a financial editor who writes about politics at BizPac Review and about business at CCN. She is a law school graduate and an alum of the University of Pennsylvania who enjoys finance, flowers, and fitness. You can follow her on Twitter at Samantha_Chang.